Category: Misinformation 101

What makes you see red?

When websites (1) and social media posts (2) trigger big emotions, they are better at spreading fake news. But one emotion in particular helps misinformation go viral – ANGER (3)
One study found that as tweets convey more anger than joy, they get more retweets.(3).

If you are feeling mad, you are also more likely to believe misinformation. To demonstrate this, researchers in one study purposely riled up participants by being rude, dismissive and insulting. Folks in the “mad” group were less likely to spot misinformation. They were also more confident about their wrong answers (4). The same goes for COVID-19 misinformation. Angry individuals were both more likely to think false claims were “scientifically credible”, AND were more likely to spread this misinformation (5). When mad, you are also more likely to look for information that confirms your views. This can create an echo chamber (6).

In general, strong emotions can impair our ability to process scientific information. When running hot we’re more likely to oversimplify problems and look for quick solutions (7). Luckily there is something we do about it!

• Provoking anger is a misinformer tactic. Being able to spot this strategy means you are less likely to fall for it (8).
• Before you share, pause and think it through. People are less likely to “like” and share fake news when they are consciously judging accuracy (9,10).

Have you heard this one before? ⚾

You might have guessed the ball costs ten cents? If you did, you are not alone (1)!

It may seem like the obvious answer, but it is incorrect. If the ball costs 10 cents then the bat would be $1.10 (a dollar more than the ball) for a total of $1.20.

The correct answer is that the ball costs 5 cents, the bat is $1.05, for a total of $1.10.

Why is this problem challenging?

We can divide our thought process into two: fast and slow thinking (2).

• Type 1: fast, automatic, and unconscious
• Type 2: slow, deliberate, and conscious

When we see the bat and ball problem our fast thinking immediately kicks in. But if we pause and go slow we can see how our initial assumptions don’t add up.

Consider this example the next time you come across a new piece of information online. Before you share, pause and think.

Ask yourself:

• WHO made it?
• WHAT is the source?
• WHERE did it come from?
• WHY are you sharing it?
• WHEN was it published?

We can all benefit from slooooowing down. Tag someone to remind them to pause today.

When you picture someone who falls for fake news, who do you see?

 

It turns out that people of ALL ages around the world are vulnerable to misinformation. While adults 65+ are more likely to share fake news stories on Facebook (1), conspiracy theories are being spread by teens on TikTok (2). A recent survey of over 20,000 Americans found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to believe in false claims about COVID-19 (3).

When it comes to the pandemic, misinformation can be a matter of life and death (4).

The good news is that you can protect yourself against misinformation.

Don’t just debunk, PREbunk (5)! Think about prebunking as vaccinating yourself against misinformation. By learning to identify different types of misinformation and how to address it, you will be more prepared next time you come across an inaccurate claim. Want to practice? Visit mediasmarts.ca/break-fake (6). They have quick quizzes that help you learn how to spot suspicious posts. Keep a lookout for these tactics, the next time you read a post online.

 

Picture this, you’re on the soccer field about to score a goal when out of nowhere, your opponent moves the net!

Ever been in a disagreement that has felt like this?

“Moving the goalposts” is a common tactic used by misinformers (1). The phrase describes an ever-changing target.

It goes like this:

Person A requests Person B to meet a certain goal. “Show me the vaccine is safe and effective”
Person B completes the goal as asked. *Does a large-scale, randomized controlled trial evaluating safety and effectiveness*
Instead of admitting that Person B has met the goal, Person A requests further goals. “But there were no studies about whether the vaccine makes you magnetic!”

If you see someone being Person A, point it out! Highlighting gaps in logic can be an effective debunking strategy (2).

But doing this without shame or ridicule — and leading with empathy — is CRUCIAL (2). Try to understand how willing a person is to an open and challenging conversation. You may want to save your time and energy and engage with them when they are open to listening (3).

When you spot misinformation online, REPORT IT! ️

On Instagram you can report a post or comment as False Information! Tap the three dots on the top right, then tap Report > It’s Inappropriate> False Information > Submit Report. For a comment, swipe to the left > tap the exclamation mark in the speech bubble > tap “Report this comment.” Then follow the same steps as above.

Share and put #ScienceUpFirst!

You can get a guide from the @WHO on how to report posts anywhere on the internet by checking out our @ScienceUpFirst profiles on Facebook and Twitter.

4 quick ways to put #ScienceUpFirst and break the chains of misinformation!

1. Pause and think before you share.
2. If you see a misleading post on social media, report it as false information.
3. It’s important to de-bunk, but try not to re-share the original post and give it more views when doing so (screenshots are great!).
4. Make sure you share good science to help it go viral!

If you see someone sharing misinformation, here are some handy tips to debunk it!